No legal bar to holding DUCSU polls

The Supreme Court on Sunday vacated its earlier order that stayed a High court order asking the Dhaka University authorities to take necessary steps within the next six months to hold DUCSU election, reports UNB.

A four-member bench of the Appellate division led by chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing of leave-to-appeal petition against the High Court order.

Earlier on 1 October last, the chamber judge of Appellate Division stayed the HC order and sent the petition to the full bench for hearing.

Manzil Murshid, lawyer of 25 DU students, said that now there is no bar to hold the election.

A writ petition was filed by 25 students of Dhaka University in March 2012 seeking its order to compel the authorities concerned to arrange the election.

On 17 January last, the HC asked the DU authorities to take necessary steps within the next six months to hold the election.

On 4 September, Manzill Murshid served a contempt of court notice to the DU vice-chancellor and two others seeking their explanation as to why they did not take steps to hold the DUCSU election.

On 12 September, a contempt of court plea was filed with the High Court against Dhaka University vice-chancellor professor Akhtaruzzaman, proctor AKM Golam Rabbani and treasurer Kamal Uddin for not taking steps to arrange election of the DU Central Students' Union (DUCSU) in compliance with its earlier directives.

Later, the DU authorities filed the leave to appeal petition against the HC order on 16 September.